Meaning & use
diviners
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“diviners” is a form of “diviner”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
People who claim to discover hidden knowledge, especially about the future, by using special powers or methods.
Grammar: This is the plural of 'diviner'; use it with plural verbs, as in 'The diviners were consulted.'
Patterns
- diviners who do something
- a group of diviners
- consult the diviners
In many ancient societies, diviners were asked to explain dreams and unusual events.
The village diviners used bones and stones to answer questions about the coming harvest.
She studied how diviners in different cultures claimed to read the will of the gods.
nounplural
People who search for underground water or minerals using a rod or similar tool.
Grammar: Also plural of 'diviner'; this sense is often narrowed to 'water diviners' to avoid confusion with fortune telling.
Patterns
- water diviners
- diviners using a rod
- employ diviners to find something
The farmers hired diviners to find a reliable source of water on the dry land.
Modern water diviners often work alongside geologists, though their methods remain controversial.
He watched the diviners walk slowly across the field, holding their rods in front of them.
Word forms
| singular | diviner |
|---|
Common combinations
- water diviners
- Water diviners are still consulted in some rural areas.
- ancient diviners
- Ancient diviners served kings and generals.
- consult the diviners
- Before the battle, the ruler consulted the diviners.
- a group of diviners
- A group of diviners arrived at the palace.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fortune tellers
- More everyday and often suggests predicting a person's future rather than finding hidden things or water.
- seers
- Literary and usually means people who see visions of the future, not people who search for water.
- soothsayers
- Old-fashioned and often slightly disapproving; it points to prediction rather than to finding lost objects.
Word family
- divine verb
- To discover something by guessing or intuition, or, in older use, to foretell.
- divination noun
- The practice or art of seeking hidden knowledge by special means.
- divining rod noun
- A forked stick or rod used to search for water or minerals.
Commonly confused: diviners or divine?
diviners vs divine
'Divine' is usually an adjective meaning heavenly or excellent, or a verb meaning to guess or discover; 'diviners' are the people who do divination.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'diviners' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Diviners' is plural, so it takes the plural verb 'were'. Option A uses a singular verb, option C mixes a singular noun with a plural verb, and option D uses a singular verb with a plural noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diviners”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.